Nigeria’s security challenges affect all faiths, Fani-Kayode tells Ted Cruz

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has responded to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz following the American lawmaker’s comments on the state of religious freedom and the treatment of Christians in Nigeria.

In a lengthy post on X on Monday, Fani-Kayode said Cruz’s concerns about Nigeria were based on “incorrect assumptions” and urged the U.S. senator to take “a more balanced view” of the country’s religious landscape.

“I applaud your professed love for our Christian community in my country. But I do not believe that it is genuine or that your motives are wholesome,” he wrote.

He accused Cruz of misrepresenting the situation in Nigeria, stating that extremist groups target both Christians and Muslims. “It is true that Christians are being targeted by Islamist terrorists in Nigeria. But it is also true that they kill as many if not more Muslims, and they burn down mosques as well as churches,” he said.

Fani-Kayode rejected claims that the Nigerian government persecutes Christians or that Muslims control all levers of national power.

He pointed to the country’s demographic and political structure, stating: “There are over 120 million Christians in this country, representing about 50% of the population.”

He added that all 17 governors from Southern Nigeria are Christians, along with three from the North. “The Senate President is also a Christian. And so are the majority of senators and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” he stated.

According to him, Christian leadership is also prominent within federal security institutions.

“The police IGP, the Armed Forces CDS, the head of the DSS, the Immigration boss, the EFCC chairman, the Navy chief and others are all Christians,” he said.

Fani-Kayode further noted that Nigeria hosts some of the world’s largest Christian congregations and that the First Lady is a pastor. “Nigeria has more Christians than any other nation in Africa just as it has more Muslims than any other. We manage the balance well and display mutual respect to one another most of the time,” he wrote.

He called on Cruz to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions.

“Your concerns should be for all Nigerians and not just those of us that are Christians,” he said.

Fani-Kayode also urged the U.S. senator to advocate for more constructive engagement. “If you really want to help, you will offer us assistance to fight insecurity rather than threaten us,” he said.

Concluding his response, the former minister urged Cruz to “temper his language” and avoid comments that could deepen divisions. “Most Nigerians are decent, disciplined and patriotic people who do not allow their religious faith to becloud their better judgment,” he wrote.

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